It has been confirmed that pupils will take the 11-Plus in their own primary schools in September after a catalogue of errors during last year’s test.
The council’s cabinet approved the change which will see the Medway Test taken in schools on Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19.
Parents were consulted on the switch after problems at the Rainham School for Girls and Chatham Grammar School for Boys centres in 2011 which attracted a record number of comments to our websites.
A total of 147 responses were received during the consultation with 133 agreeing that pupils should take the test in their own schools and only 14 opting to keep the old system.
Children from a school outside the Towns who want to take the Medway Test will sit it at an independent centre on Saturday, September 22. This will also include children attending a Medway school which has opted not to run the test and where they can’t be accommodated in a neighbouring school.
Cllr Les Wicks, head of children’s services, said: “By moving the test back to primary schools, I believe children will be able to benefit from taking the test in a familiar environment where they are more likely to perform to the best of their abilities.”
Pupils began taking their 11-Plus in test centres on Saturdays, rather than in their own schools on a weekday, around seven years ago, but it was unpopular among parents.
The council will now contact all primary and junior schools to inform them of the decision and ask whether they will opt into the new arrangements.
Full details will be included in the council’s admissions guide for parents, which will be published in June.